THE Tipperary Foxhounds returned to their traditional venue of Lisronagh last Saturday and staged a nine-race card as point-to-points belatedly returned in their true guise for the first time since December.

Co. Wexford-rider Pearse Rogan has really caught the eye this season and he initiated his first ever double aboard Donnchadh Doyle’s Phantom Getaway in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Sixth on his debut at Tipperary just under three weeks previously, the Monbeg Syndicate-owned Getaway gelding came with a sustained effort from the penultimate obstacle under Rogan to collar long-time leader Stormin Crossgales at the last and oblige by four lengths.

“This is a horse we bought at the Derby Sale. He needed the run the last day but stepped forward well there.

“He’s a lovely sort that will improve further for softer ground,” stated Eamonn Doyle of the close relation to Francois Doumen’s former classy hurdler Bilboa.

Rogan edged within one winner of Seán Staples in the under 21-rider standings when once again teaming up with Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate to collect the novice riders open lightweight courtesy of the progressive Er Dancer.

Supplementing a trio of victories during the autumn, including when claiming a Fairyhouse maiden hunter chase, the Dragon Dancer gelding was produced with a well-timed challenge by Rogan at the final fence and prevailed by two and a half lengths from Vinnies Nephue.

“This lad is a grand horse for the likes of Pearse and Ross Foley to ride and learn away on. He’d a nice run last time in the Ulster National and should give us plenty of sport in opens for the rest of the season,” observed Gearoid Doyle.

Another double

Donnchadh Doyle’s older brother Sean also recorded a double which was instigated by debutant Rae Des Champs who claimed the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.

A third winner in as many weekends for her pilot Liam Gilligan, the daughter of Robin Des Champs had her two remaining rivals crying enough on the turn into straight and ultimately returned 10 lengths clear of Motown Maggie.

Rae Des Champs, a €12,000 foal purchase, is shared by the Heskin family from Kilworth, Co. Cork and the winning-handler, who commented: “This is a gorgeous filly, who relished the ground out there today. That was a lovely run and she looks to have a bright future.”

Tiernan Power partnered his first winner following an industrious spell riding in British point-to-points when bringing up Sean Doyle’s brace aboard Set In The West in the opening split of the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Owned and bred by the Howlett-family from Bridgetown, Co Wexford, the daughter of Westerner drew clear after the final fence to defeat Nineteensixteen by three and a half lengths.

LOCAL handler Harry Kelly joined forces with rider James Hannon for a double, with the pair’s brace starting with a one-two in the latter division of the mares’ maiden in which the determined triumph of Eureka Creek won the day.

Making her debut, the daughter of Jet Away dug deep on the uphill run to the line to repel the persistent challenge of her stablemate Mulberry Hill with a length ultimately separating the duo.

“We’d been holding off with this lady on account of the ground but all credit to the hunt, they’ve done a massive job here with the ground. We like her a lot, she’s a nice mare and is for sale now,” remarked Kelly who shares the bay with Tim Nolan.

John Palmer’s home-bred Constant Friday concluded the Kelly and Hannon double in the closing division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

The sole first-timer in the 13-runner contest, Constant Friday bravely got himself back into the reckoning approaching the final obstacle under Hannon and asserted in likeable style to post a two-length triumph over Ranger Kid.

Kelly outlined of the half-brother to his former two-time track scorer Padraig’s Joy: “He’s a smashing horse that’s very good to jump.

“He has a great attitude and it’s always nice to see a horse battle like he did there.”

THE opening divide of the six-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the Eoin O’Brien-ridden Ballygriffincottage who atoned for a luckless debut effort in Dromahane in late December by getting the better of John Adams by 10 lengths.

Acquired as a foal by his owners the Turner family from Killavullen, Co Cork, the Stowaway gelding capitalised on the final-fence departure of the leading Daddy Curtuis to score for handler Marie Harding.

“I’m delighted for the owners as they are so enthusiastic. We’ve all had to be patient waiting for these older maidens to come back. This horse is very much a stayer in the making and will be sold now,” declared Harding.

Fresh from an excellent third-placed effort at Tipperary the previous month, the Bernard Crowley-trained Whelans Bridge made the breakthrough in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Tackle

Given a fine ride by Chris O’Donovan, the Finsceal Fior gelding moved through to tackle Charlie Uberalles approaching the last obstacle before lengthening well in the closing stages to carry the day by three parts of a length.

“This lad has improved hugely from his first run. He’s the only one I have in at the minute as I’ve let all the others off so it’s nice he did that today. I’m thrilled for the owners as they’ve been great supporters of mine,” concluded Crowley of his Eileen and Peter Queally owned-charge.

Charlie Uberalles’ pilot Seán Staples similarly had to settle for the runner-up berth in the latter divide of the same maiden as his mount Clear The Runway was agonisingly denied in the shadows of the post by the Denis Murphy-owned and trained Chase Outlaw.

Given a power-packed ride by Luke Murphy, last November’s Knockmullen House-eighth Chase Outlaw got on top in the dying strides to outpoint Michael Murphy’s Clear The Runway by a length and a half.

Horse To Follow

Stormin Crossgales (B.O. Walsh)

This son of Sageburg put in a most pleasing debut effort when attempting to make most in the younger geldings’ maiden. Ultimately finishing third, this sound-jumping sort from the family of Royal Athlete should claim his maiden before progressing into a track winner.